Instagram for business has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms for businesses looking to reach new audiences and drive engagement. With over 1 billion monthly active users, it’s easy to see why so many companies are flocking to Instagram to market their brands. But more than simply creating an Instagram account and posting photos is needed to see success on the platform. You need to have a strategy in place to maximize your Instagram presence and turn followers into customers. Here are some tips on making the most of Instagram for business.
Read our blog Tips To Create A Social Media Calendar To Plan Your Content
Optimize Your Profile of Instagram For Business
Your Instagram profile serves as your homepage on the platform, so you must ensure it looks professional and provides all the necessary information about your brand.
- Use an eye-catching, high-quality profile photo that represents your brand well. This will be the thumbnail image people see all over Instagram.
- Fill out your bio with important details like your brand name, what you do, and your website. You have just 150 characters to sum up your business, so be concise.
- Link to your website or online shop in your bio so it’s easy for people to find and make purchases.
- Add your location and contact info like phone number or email to your profile too.
Post High-Quality Photos
The key to success on Instagram for business is captivating visual content. Posting pixelated, boring photos will only get you ignored.
- Shoot photos specifically for your Instagram feed using high-resolution cameras or phones. Get creative with angles and editing.
- Showcase your products or services with artsy, clean imagery. Bring your brand to life visually.
- Mix in behind-the-scenes photos, employee spotlights, user-generated content, and more variety.
- Post consistently, at least once daily, to stay in mind with your audience.
Leverage Instagram Stories
Posting non-stop stories is a great way to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram. Use stories to:
- Give followers a peek into your brand’s personality with fun videos and photos.
- Run polls and Q&As to interact with your audience.
- Promote products, deals, and content with swipe-up links.
- Go live or post pre-recorded videos to share announcements.
- And more! Get creative with how you leverage stories daily.
Use Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags help users discover your content, so using relevant ones is critical for reach.
- Research hashtags used by your target audience and competitors.
- Identify niche hashtags related to your industry, products, brand, location, and more.
- Mix top general hashtags like #instagram with specific ones for balance.
- Don’t over-hashtag – stick to 5-10 per post max.
- Create branded hashtags and promote them to build communities. Ex: #ShopOurProducts
Run Contests and Giveaways
Contests, giveaways, and other incentives are hugely popular on Instagram. Offer prizes relevant to your target market to gain followers and engagement.
- Require users to follow you, like your post, tag friends, etc. to enter.
- Offer your products/services or team up with brands your audience loves.
- Promote the giveaway through stories, posts, emails, and ads.
- Use a third-party app like Gleam to collect and select entries.
- Announce winners to maximize visibility.
Use Instagram Ads
Instagram advertising provides powerful options for promoting your account, products, website, offers and more both on the Instagram app and Facebook.
- Run follower campaigns to grow your audience with relevant targeting.
- Promote your best-performing organic posts to expand reach.
- Drive traffic to your website or product pages with clickable ads.
- Test different objectives, placements, and creative to see what resonates best.
- Track performance and optimize campaigns for ROI.
The right Instagram for business marketing strategy takes time and testing to perfect. But putting these best practices into play will help you attract more ideal followers, boost engagement, and turn your Instagram presence into a revenue driver for your business.
